Career Certificate—International (CC-I)
Gain a higher level of career competence and practical skills.
What is the Career Certificate- International?
This nationally awarded, innovative program features weekly workshops, peer mentoring, and tools to build your networking, job search, and interviewing skills. Upon completion, you’ll earn a Career Certificate—a valuable credential to showcase your workplace readiness to employers.
Spring 2026 Application Is Now Closed
Application opened December 8th, 2025, and closed February 1, 2026.
Any eligible student who is considered a residential student may apply for the CC-I program. Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend an information session to apply.
Upcoming Information Sessions
We strongly recommend attending one of the following info sessions before submitting your application; the sessions all cover the same content, so please choose the one that works best for your schedule.
- December 10, 2025, Virtual
- January 21, 2026, The Career Center Conference Room 143
- January 23, 2026, Virtual
- January 26, 2026, The Career Center Conference Room 143
- January 29, 2026, Virtual
Online link: https://go.illinois.edu/TCC-online-workshop
Students enrolled in residential degree programs. Students enrolled in remote online programs are not considered residential students. You have to be taking classes IN-PERSON while residing in the U.S. If you are residing in a country other than the U.S., you are NOT considered as a residential student.
This service is open to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, or national origin. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request, please contact careercenter@illinois.edu.
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CC-I Program Requirements
To complete the CC-I program, you must:
- Attend and actively participate in at least six of the weekly CC-I workshops.
- Complete assigned milestones and tasks associated with the CC-I program.
The Career Center offers two in-person sessions for the CC-I workshop in Spring 2026, participants only need to choose one section to attend for the entire semester. For Spring 2026, the CC-I program runs from Tuesday, February 10, 2026, to Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Participants can choose:
- Section A: Tuesdays from 4:00-5:30 pm
- Section B: Wednesdays from 4:00-5:30 pm.
Benefits of the CC-I Program
Understand different visa-related processes
Build intercultural understanding in workplace
Explore international career opportunities
The CC-I program has been offered by The Career Center since 2012, and in 2016 received the Services to International Students award, a national award presented by the National Career Development Association.
For more information, please reach out to the Assistant Director for International Student Career Development, Dr. Shiyu Sun at shiyus2@illinois.edu.
Apply to be an International Career Navigator!
Gain mentoring and peer leadership experience in this unique employment opportunity at The Career Center. Learn more about the International Career Navigator Program and the application process!
CC-I Success Story
CC-I Term:
CC-I Student: Spring '25
International Career Navigator: Fall '25
Major: Computer Science
What motivated you to join the CC-I Program?
I first heard about the program from a CC-I Program alumnus who mentioned how it significantly aided her during job interviews. As an international student without a mentor, I reviewed the syllabus and decided to apply to prepare for internship applications in the fall. It turned out to be the best decision I’ve made. The career preparation provided by the CC-I Program played a crucial role in securing an internship at Adobe.
How would you describe your overall experience as a CC-I student?
During the CC-I Program, I discovered the valuable resources provided by the career center, which many international students might overlook. I honed my pitch for interviews through practice sessions, and the pitch competition was particularly beneficial as the navigators offered insightful feedback. If you’re a participant, make sure to take advantage of the one-on-one meetings. My Navigator, a software engineer, shared invaluable advice on coding, job searching, and preparing for coding assignments.
How would you describe your overall experience as an International Career Navigator?
Rejoining the CC-I Program in the Fall allowed me to continue supporting international students in their career preparation, as I had benefited from the previous semester. As a Navigator, I was inspired by my peers’ dedication. Their commitment not only motivated me to improve my skills but also fostered a collaborative environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds could support and learn from each other throughout their career preparation journey.
How has CC-I prepared you for your career development?
I found the program’s rubric for crafting a compelling elevator pitch to be particularly effective and comprehensive. This skill proved invaluable during my summer internship, where I had to deliver pitches daily. The program taught me to prepare pitches of varying lengths and tailor them to different audiences. This enabled me to effectively communicate my project to numerous interns and research teams, which ultimately led to the return offer after my internship.
What was the most meaningful thing you learned or gained in the CC-I program?
As a Navigator, I observed that many international participants, including myself, were pleasantly surprised by the valuable career resources that are often missing at other institutions. A small tip: take advantage of the workshops. They are excellent opportunities that can significantly enhance your professional network.
CC-I Term: Fall '25
Major: Geography and Geographic Information Science
Minor: Econometrics and Informatic
What motivated you to join the CC-I Program?
I joined the CC-I Program because I wanted more clarity and confidence as I thought about my future. As an international student planning to pursue a master’s degree, I knew that career preparation would still matter, even if my next step wasn’t an immediate full-time job. CC-I appealed to me because it offered a structured, hands-on way to explore career development and better understand how my academic interests could connect to long-term goals.
How would you describe your overall experiences as a CC-I student?
My experience in CC-I was supportive, motivating, and very human. Dr. Sun created a welcoming classroom environment that made career conversations feel approachable rather than intimidating. What meant the most to me was the mentorship. At one point, I felt overwhelmed balancing CC-I work with my major coursework and seriously considered withdrawing. My navigator, Khanh, reached out quickly, shared his own experience, and helped clarify the program requirements. Knowing I had someone who genuinely cared made it much easier to keep going.
How has CC-I prepared you for your career development?
CC-I helped me feel more prepared and intentional about my long-term career path. Through assignments like building my Handshake profile and practicing interviews using Big Interview, I became familiar with tools I know I will continue to use in graduate school and beyond. Conducting an informational interview was especially meaningful because it pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped me realize that networking can be a genuine conversation rather than something intimidating. These experiences helped me feel more confident navigating professional spaces.
What was the most meaningful thing you learned or gained in the CC-I program?
The most meaningful thing I gained from CC-I was learning how to talk about my experiences with confidence. Practicing the STAR method and participating in the Elevator Pitch competition helped me organize my thoughts and communicate my strengths more clearly. On a personal level, I also learned that asking for help is an important part of professional growth. Reaching out to my navigator during a challenging moment helped me find solutions instead of giving up. That sense of confidence, resilience, and self-awareness is something I will carry with me into graduate school and my future career.
CC-I Success Story
CC-I Term:
Major: Chemical Engineering
What motivated you to join the CC-I Program?
I joined the CC-I Program because it offered a structured way to advance my career. I was interested in developing skills such as networking and professional profile building, as well as building meaningful connections with peers and mentors who could support my long-term career growth.
How would you describe your overall experiences as a CC-I student?
My experience as a CC-I student was very positive and growth-oriented. The program provided consistent guidance, practical resources, and a supportive environment that helped me become more confident in navigating academic and career-related decisions.
How would you describe your overall experiences as a CC-I navigator?
As a CC-I navigator, my experience was both rewarding and educational. Supporting other students strengthened my leadership, communication, and mentorship skills, while also allowing me to give back to a community that played an important role in my own development.
How has CC-I prepared you for your career development?
CC-I prepared me for career development by helping me build professional skills such as goal-setting, networking, self-reflection, and effective communication. The program also increased my awareness of career pathways and taught me how to proactively seek opportunities and resources. I successfully secured an internship during summer 2025, which turns into a co-op in Fall and Spring.
What was the most meaningful thing you learned or gained in the CC-I program?
The most meaningful thing I gained from the CC-I program was learning how to proactively seek opportunities instead of waiting for them. The program helped me understand the importance of taking initiative, asking the right questions, and consistently engaging with people and resources to grow professionally.